Name William Helyar Died November 21, 1645 | ||
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Reverend William Helyar (8 January 1559 – 21 November 1645), Doctor of Divinity, of Coker Court, East Coker, in Somerset, was Archdeacon of Barnstaple and a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I.
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Biography
He was the son of William Helyar by his wife Alice Veale and was baptised on 8 January 1559 at St. Budeaux, Devon. He graduated M.A. from Exeter College, Oxford in 1587. His later clerical appointments included:
In 1616 he purchased Coker Court, the manor house of East Coker, Somerset, from Sir Edward Phelips. He started the construction of the Helyar Almshouses in East Coker in 1640, but died before their completion. They were finished by his grandson William Helyar.
During the Civil War,on 19 January 1642, he was dragged at midnight from his bed in Exeter by Roundheads and carried on board a ship, where he was detained until he consented to pay the sum of £800 (equivalent to £125,175 in 2015). He received a copy of the protection thus purchased:
"Whereas Archdeacon Helyar has submitted and sent eight hundred pounds to the parliament upon the propositions. These are therefore, to require all the forces of the parliament to take notice thereof and to protect him in his person, family, and goods, strictly charging and commanding that no man henceforth, molest or trouble him. January 19, 1642, signed, Jo. Northcote, Sam. Rolle” etc etcMarriage and children
He married Mary Cary (died 1607), daughter of William Cary of Cockington, Devon, by whom he had children including: